Maharashtra’s real estate regulator closed 2025 with its strongest dispute resolution performance since inception, signalling a decisive shift in how homebuyer grievances are being handled across the state. Data released by the authority shows a sharp rise in complaint disposals even as the number of fresh grievances filed by buyers continued to climb, reflecting both market scale and improving regulatory capacity.
During 2025, the regulator disposed of nearly 7,000 complaints, marking a significant year-on-year increase in resolved cases. At the same time, over 5,000 new complaints were filed, underlining persistent stress points in project delivery, possession timelines, and contractual compliance. Urban policy experts say this dual trend highlights a maturing regulatory ecosystem one where buyers are increasingly willing to seek formal redress, and the system is becoming better equipped to respond. Officials familiar with the process attribute the improvement to tighter case management systems and faster scheduling of hearings. For the first time, most newly registered complaints are being acknowledged and assigned hearing dates within weeks rather than months. This has helped reduce procedural delays that previously discouraged buyers from pursuing claims, particularly in smaller cities and peri-urban districts. While the overall pendency remains sizeable, the authority has indicated that all complaints filed up to late 2025 have either been heard once or formally listed. Legal observers note that early hearings play a critical role in dispute resolution, often leading to settlements or compliance before cases escalate into prolonged litigation.
Parallel to grievance redressal, Maharashtra continued to lead the country in project registrations during the year. Thousands of residential developments across Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and emerging districts received regulatory clearance, reinforcing the state’s position as India’s largest housing market. Analysts point out that high registration volumes also increase the regulatory workload, making efficiency gains in complaint handling particularly significant. Another structural shift underway is the gradual digital integration of planning authorities with the regulator’s systems. Construction approvals, commencement certificates, and compliance documentation are increasingly being verified electronically, reducing ambiguity and scope for misreporting. Urban governance specialists say this linkage is essential for improving transparency and aligning housing growth with planning controls, infrastructure capacity, and environmental safeguards. Compliance levels among developers have also improved markedly, especially in the submission of mandatory progress disclosures. Regular updates on construction status and financial utilisation are now becoming the norm rather than the exception, offering buyers clearer visibility into project health and risks.
As Maharashtra continues to urbanise rapidly, experts caution that regulatory effectiveness will remain central to maintaining buyer confidence and ensuring equitable access to housing. The challenge ahead lies not just in resolving disputes faster, but in preventing them through stronger oversight, coordinated planning, and predictable enforcement.
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